First Things RSS Feed - Robert W. Crawford https://www.firstthings.com/author/robert-w-crawford en-us Copyright 2025 First Things. All Rights Reserved. ft@firstthings.com (The Editors) ft@firstthings.com (The Editors) Mon, 20 Jan 2025 16:53:13 -0500 https://d2201k5v4hmrsv.cloudfront.net/img/favicon-196.png First Things RSS Feed Image https://www.firstthings.com/rss/author/robert-w-crawford 60 The Hawks in the Leaves https://www.firstthings.com/article/2018/10/the-hawks-in-the-leaves https://www.firstthings.com/article/2018/10/the-hawks-in-the-leaves Mon, 01 Oct 2018 00:00:00 -0400 The silly chickens huddle in dismay.
Each shadow cast by falling leaves they take
to be a hawk descending on its prey.
They’re scared, while I’m just resting on my rake.
Today’s the stripping day, when in a blink
our postcard fall receives its fatal blow.
Some blame the southwest wind. I’d like to think
the leaves themselves know when to go.

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]]> The K-T Boundary https://www.firstthings.com/article/2017/01/the-k-t-boundary https://www.firstthings.com/article/2017/01/the-k-t-boundary Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 -0500 The Cretaceous-Tertiary (K-T) boundary is a distinct layer in the rock strata laid down about 65 million years ago. Its creation coincides with the mass extinction of the dinosaurs and it contains high levels of iridium, an element found in asteroids.

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]]> The Snowstorms that Remain https://www.firstthings.com/article/2016/12/the-snowstorms-that-remain https://www.firstthings.com/article/2016/12/the-snowstorms-that-remain Thu, 01 Dec 2016 00:00:00 -0500 I’m waiting like a child on Christmas Eve,
waiting for dawn to show me that the snow
is finally here. It’s falling, I believe,
but I’ll need more of morning light to know.

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]]> Los Alamos https://www.firstthings.com/article/2016/02/los-alamos https://www.firstthings.com/article/2016/02/los-alamos Mon, 01 Feb 2016 00:00:00 -0500 The mountaineers of Hitler’s 16th corps
stood on Mt. Elbrus and admired the view,
confident that peace was near. Case Blue
had gone as planned. In one last blitz they’d tour
the storied Caspian—along its shore,
the vital oil of Grozny and Baku.
Russia would fall in 1942—
the stronger race deserved to win the war.

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]]> The End Is Near https://www.firstthings.com/article/2014/01/the-end-is-near https://www.firstthings.com/article/2014/01/the-end-is-near Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 -0500 The last few monks retreat in monasteries,
the vigilant in town consult well-thumbed
survival guides, and all the caged canaries
left in the mines have recently succumbed.
Tales reach us of some vast deforestation;
down at the corner store, those in the know
predict the President’s assassination;
and, any day now, Betelgeuse will blow.
Although I’m wary of a stranger’s touch—
I, too, hear rumors of an epidemic—
the wearing of protective gear is such
a waste of time when entropy’s systemic.
No need to build a shelter. Let down your guard.
The end is always near. Come, kiss me hard.

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]]> NCAA https://www.firstthings.com/article/2013/03/ncaa https://www.firstthings.com/article/2013/03/ncaa Fri, 01 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500 It’s always been
Reward the win,
Ignore the sin.
The conscience sleeps
When money keeps
Pouring in.

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]]> Nothing Lies https://www.firstthings.com/article/2012/02/nothing-lies https://www.firstthings.com/article/2012/02/nothing-lies Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500 An atom’s 99.9%
nothing at all. The world’s an empty place.
Its solid shapes are objects we invent
to give a form to nuclei and space.
But these constructions aren’t exactly fake”
it hurts when, as a test, we kick a stone;
electrons charge across the void and make
illusions hard enough to break a bone.
Outside the window, photons waver, glow,
collapsing to what matters here: your bright
blue scarf, dark hair; a body that I know
is not a trick of late November light.
You and I”more than a thought, thin air”
unique arrangements of what isn’t there.

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]]> Sales Pitch https://www.firstthings.com/article/2011/06/sales-pitch https://www.firstthings.com/article/2011/06/sales-pitch Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400 He walked with me around the grounds,
expecting me to give away”
by how I sighed at this, or shrugged
at that”what I might spend, today ,
to buy a proper burial plot
in his North Derry cemetery.
We ended up out in the field
where all the new graves were arranged
in cul-de-sacs and perfect lines
like fresh suburban sub-divisions.

“I see you’re no fan of the heat”
the sun just pounds this open spot.
For just a little more I’ve got
a space under those maple trees,
the older ones along the lane.”

I saw what he was pointing at,
admired how the narrow path
wound crookedly along the cool
edge of the woods. I thought of how
there would be colors in the fall
and how the big trees neatly framed
the little view of Uncanoonuc
I’d always have across the way”
a sight a visitor might like.

“It really isn’t that much more.
There’s only one or two plots left.”

I felt the sweat run down my brow,
looked at the summer sky and knew
whatever extra price I paid,
I’d rest more comfortably in shade.

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]]> Not2B.com https://www.firstthings.com/article/2010/08/not2bcom https://www.firstthings.com/article/2010/08/not2bcom Tue, 10 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400 This is a choice—it’s not a tragedy—
And we exist to help you get it done.
Why make this harder than it has to be?

Click through, review a wide variety
Of products and advice. Please, have some fun!
This is a choice and not a tragedy.

Our pills? Organic, and they’re gluten-free.
Don’t miss our “Steady Stand” to hold your gun.
Why make this harder than it has to be?

All items have a lifetime guarantee,
So rest assured you’ve bought the best, bar none.
Make a choice. Avoid a tragedy:

With our assistance you can probably
Forgo a costly, dangerous dry-run.
Friends make this harder than it has to be,

But we’re committed to your privacy
And won’t disclose your plans to anyone.
This is a choice. It’s not a tragedy.
Why make this harder than it has to be?

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]]> Of Metaphor in Heaven https://www.firstthings.com/article/2007/04/of-metaphor-in-heaven https://www.firstthings.com/article/2007/04/of-metaphor-in-heaven Sun, 01 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0400 No intimations, fables, puppet shows;
No need for parables: up there one sees
Reality; good books stay on the shelf.

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